Christina Grimmie to Be Honored by Humane Society – The Los Angeles event will be held at Paramount Studios and will also honor the late songstress and YouTube star Christina Grimmie, who was killed in Orlando, Fla., last June. Also scheduled to appear at this year’s event is actress Elizabeth Banks, who will present Booker with his award, and Rachel Platten, who will be presenting the Grimmie family with an award as well as providing the musical entertainment for the evening. – Read more at The Hollywood Reporter
Lauren Alaina Set to Appear on Rascal Flatts Album
Now that the American Idol 10 singer is labelmates with Carrie Underwood perhaps they’ll record (or tour) together as well…
So… @Lauren_Alaina is going to be on @rascalflatts‘ new album, #BackToUs available May 19! We. Can’t. Wait. ? https://t.co/ioN0RX6cFd pic.twitter.com/BFryWl4nIW
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) March 29, 2017
Scotty McCreery Receives Long Pine Award
The American Idol 10 singer performed at the Opry Tuesday night (March 28) and also received an award.
Honored 2 receive Order of Long Leaf Pine from State of North Carolina @Opry last night w/my hero & previous winner @CharlieDaniels there pic.twitter.com/qV1TTDHPpj
— Scotty McCreery (@ScottyMcCreery) March 29, 2017
Story Behind the Song: Adam Wakefield, ‘Blame It on Me’– Adam Cunningham, Nolan Neal and Aron Leigh wrote “Blame It on Me.” I actually met Nolan at a late-night studio party, but we didn’t hang out much until my time on The Voice. During my season, we hung out a lot; he played me some of his songs — I thought they were great, so we started writing and looking for excuses to work together. Nolan played [“Blame It on Me”] for me when we were in LA, and I loved it then … He continued to put the bug in my ear about the song for another six months. I never really considered cutting it, but I wanted to put it in my live set. [Then], after I heard my band play it for the first time, I knew it was the song I wanted to put out. – Read more at The Boot
Life after ‘American Idol’: Lee DeWyze’s ‘Walking Dead’ connection, return to Eddie’s Attic March 30 – While I admit I was a Crystal Bowersox fan at the time of the show, I have to give props to DeWyze seven years later. He has found his niche as a talented songwriter, placing his melancholy, atmospheric songs on TV shows such as AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” USA’s “Suits, CBS’s “Elementary” and Freeform’s “The Fosters.” “I truly believe that the radio of our generation is television and movies and things like that,” DeWyze said this afternoon from his home in Los Angeles, where has has lived since he won “Idol” seven years ago. “The Walking Dead,” shot in metro Atlanta, was a breakthrough moment for DeWyze’s writing career. – Read more at AJC.com
Warner Bros’ Mike Darnell On Growing Slate, Expanding ‘The Bachelor’ Franchise, Possible ‘American Idol’ Return & More – You can’t change it too much or it is no longer American Idol. And yet if you don’t change it somewhat, you’re sort of stuck where it was and that’s why I feel like it needs a few years to rest where people will love to see the old show again. I think that changing the format too much overtly, for people who aren’t interested, it’s not going to help them to be interested, and maybe the old fans will get pissed. – Read more at Deadline
Tyra Banks Talks Joining ‘America’s Got Talent,’ Bonding With ‘Girls’ Girls’ Mel B & Heidi Klum – When asked if she got any pre-show hosting advice, Banks told Billboard, “[Producer] Nigel [Caaro] said, ‘You be you, darling. If they give you any lines that don’t feel natural, just throw it out and be you. That’s why I have you here.’” She said the girl power will also be prominent this season, since the guys (Cowell and Mandel) are now outnumbered, adding that Mel B and Klum “are girls’ girls. There’s no catty crap going on. It’s all love here.” – Read more at Billboard
‘America’s Got Talent’: Simon Cowell Reveals How Tyra Banks Came Aboard As Host
Simon also addresses the possible Idol reboot.
